Rotary oil seal



' mms3 J. MIKULASEK ROTARY OIL SEAL Nov., E19, E935.

-Eiled Deo. 23, 1932 Patented Nov.,v 19, 1935 ROTARY on. SEAL John -Mikulasek,' Newton, Iowafassignor to The p Maytag Company, Newton, Iowa, a corporation of Delaware Application December 23, 19u32, Serial No.' 648,57*!l 11 ClaimS. (Cl. 308-170) Tl .e present invention relates to oil seals and more particularly to a novel arrangement to cirvculate the lubricating oil through the bearing on the-shaft of 4an electric motor or the like and to return the waste oil back into the bearing. e invention also includes a means -for positively preventing-this waste oil from entering ing.

the motor.'y .l J

Among the objects of my invention is lto provide a means for posltivelypreventing the gravitation of oil down the shaft of a vertical motor, as is employed in the use of an ironer, or other mechanism, so that such oil' cannot enter into the motor.

Another object is to provide a seal that is pressed or otherwise secured to the shaft and revolves therewith so as to eliminate all friction and added load on' the motor. As a further result of eliminating all friction my seal will not wear out` but will last as long as the motor.

Another object .of my invention is to provide a complete andd continuous rcirculation of oil through the whole bearing on the shaft of the motor which will not be interrupted in any way by l `the action of the seal.

or getting into the motor during said movement.l

I'his stored oil will be pumped up'ag'ain to be used when the motor is operated to lubricate the bear- Another object of my invention is to provide a seal that ,will act positively regardless of whether or not the oil is freely running. ',The present'oil seals that operate by friction will sometimes slip around the shaft or revolve slowly therewith, particularly when the oil is cold or stili, but by pressing, pinning or otherwise tightly fitting my seal to the shaft, this difficulty is eliminated and it is impossible for the' oil to lget between the shaft and the seal. 1 Another object of my invention voil seal which will positively 4force any excess oil" upward and away from the motor and which will cooperate with the other parts of the motor to circulate this oil through the bearing.

liliY is to provideaan Y and such further objects, advantages, and capabllities as will later`more, flly appear, and are inherently possessed thereby.

'. The invention further resides in .the combination, construction and arrangements `of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and while there is .shown therein a preferred 'embodiment, it is to be. understood that the same is ,susceptible of modification and change, and. comprehends other details, arrangements' of parts, 5 and constructions, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

ln the drawing:

Fig. l is a view'in vertical cross section through the oil seal.

Fig. 2 is a top view of the motor head. n Fig. 3 is a. view in vertical cross section of the side of a portionI of the oil seal' showing the shape of the groove.

Referring more particularlyto the disclosure in the drawing showing my preferred embodiment, the upper part of the motor I is encased in hous- ,ing 2 and provided with a shaft 3. The upper part 'of this shaft is provided with a worm 4 cooperating with the worm wheel 5 of an ironer or 20 -other mechanism (not shown). 'I'he shaft 3 enters the motor through the motor head 8 which has an extended neck 'I surrounding the shaft. The shaft is also provided with a thrust bearing, 8, which may be of the ball bearing type as shown 2,5 in the drawing, and bearing bushing 9 provided 4les with .helical grooves III and annular groove II.

This latter groove is positioned a short distance above the lower -end of the bearing. Between the motor head and housing is provided a gasket I2. t' the top of the motor head neck and extending ldownwardly therethrough and also through the bearing 9 to the shaft is the oil intake passage I3 whichreaches the shaft'at the groove II in the bearing. Immediately below the bearing, the

motor head is provided with anv enlarged cavity I4 in which rotates the oil seal or slinger I5 which is pressed, pinned or otherwise tightly secured to the shaft. In the lower part of the seal is provided a hollow portion I6 which is preferably filled 40 with felt or other absorbent material I 6'. Qn the sides of the seal is a helical groove I'I more or lesssimilar to the groove III in the bearing.,

In the neck of the motor head is oil outlet I8 extendingrfrom the seal to the top of the neck and connecting with the intake passage/ I3 by 4radial grooves I9 and annular )clearance I 9' around the shaft 3. It is of course lmderstood thatthe'oil may be sent elsewhere'if it7is notv desired to use it again. In' such a case there is no 5f)l annular clearance provided. I

Below the seal and'connected to the under side of the motor head by bolts or the like 20 is the bottom'plate 2I having a neck portion 22 surrounding the shaft and extending upwardly into v the hollow space I6 to a point near the top thereof. A sump S is thereby formed in the bottom portion of the cavity I4. ket between the bottom plate and motor head.

In operation the oil enters the intake I3 and l reaches the shaft at the annular groove Il in the bearing. The helical groove carries the oil upward along the shaft' and lubricates it and both bearings. Should any oil escape below the groove I I it will be caught by the seal and forced upward by the'slinger I5 through the outlet I8 andfwill reenter the neck thrdughthe intake I3.

After the motor has stopped, gravity might cause some of the oil to ooze. down around the seal. This will be stored in the sump until the 'motor is operated again, when the. oil will lie forcedv outwardlyvby centrifugal force and then the 'groove I1 will cause it to be carried upward where tbe'compression force of the rotating seal will cause it to be carried through the outlet I8 to be used again as previously described. In case the motor should be upturned or placed on`itsside when moved, the hollow portion in the ring, which is of course part of the sump, is lled with felt or other absorbent material to absorb the oil and prevent it leaking during said movement. The helical grooves are preferably of saw tooth shape, whereby a positive upward movement of the oil during the rotation of the shaft is assured, although other shapes of groove may be used if desired. Y

It will be noted that the intake hole terminates vabove the bottom of the bearing and is spaced from the seal. By reason of this, it is assured that the oil will go out through the outlet and the circulation of forced air and oil that comes from the slinger will be shut off from the inlet. Otherwise, the oil and bubbles of air might disrupt the normal oil circulation by passing up through the intake pipe and prevent the entering oil from reaching the shaft.

By reason of the above description and the disclosure in the drawing, it will be readily seen the bearing to the shaft, `a ring in the sleeve and tightly secured to the shaft, an outlet hole in said sleeve extending upward from said ring,.

means on said ring to force any excess oil up` said outlet while the motor is operating, and

means under said ring for storing said excess oil while the motor is idle.

2. A means for sealing a vertical rotating shaft comprising a motor head. having a neck through which said shaft extends, a cavity in said neck,

, a ring in said cavity said ring being tightly attached to `said shaftl and rotating therewith, a groove on said ring, an outlet in said neck, and communicating with said groove, ahollow portion in said fring, absorbent material in said hollow portion,. and a bottom plate below said ring and attached to said motor head, said plate having a neck Aportion surrounding said shaft and extending into said hollow portion.

- 3. A system for circulating oil around a Vertical motor shaft, comprising -a motor head hav- 23 represents a gasthrough and through said second mentioned 5v 'bearing to said shaft, a ring below said bearing and tightly connected to said shaft'so as to rotate therewith, the outside of said ring having a helical sawtooth groove, said ring having a cavity at its lower end, absorbent Vmaterial in said cavity, a plate below said ring and surrounding said shaft and having a sleeve extending' into said-cavity, means for tightly connecting said plate to said motor head, an outlet hole in said neck extending from above said ring to the ltop 15 of said neck, and means connecting said intake and outlet holes.

4. Means for sealing a motor shaft comprising a motor head, a ring having one end portion `so constructed and arranged as to be' pressed on 20 lsaid shaft, the other end portion' of said ring having an axial recess therein. formed in such -manner as to provide an annular ange, a bottom piece secured to said head and provided with an annular flange arranged to surround the shaft 25 and extended vaxially into said recess, said head having an oil outlet conduit therein so located that its receiving end is adjacent to the first mentioned end of said ring but axially spaced with respect thereto, the periphery of said ring 30 having an helical groove therein extending from the free edge'of the flange to a position adjacent to the receiving end of said conduit.

5. Means for sealing a motor shaft comprising a motor head provided with an extended neck, a 35 ring having one end portion so constructed and arranged as to be pressed on said shaft, the other end portion of said ring having an axial 'recess therein formed in such manner as to provide an annular flange, said ring being located within'40.

said neck, a bottom piece secured to said head and provided with an annular flange arrange'dwto surround. the shaft and extended axiallyinto said recess, said neck having an oil outlet cbnduit therein so located that its receiving end is 451 adjacent to the. rst mentioned end of said ring but axially spaced with respect thereto, the periphery ,of said ring having'an helical groove therein extending from the free edge otthe flange to a position adjacent'to the receiving end of 50V said conduit. I y

6. Means for sealing a motor shaft comprising a motor head provided with an extended neck having an enlarged portion and an axial tubular extension, a ring having one end portiomso con- 55 I structed and arranged as to be pressed on said shaft, theother end portion of the .ring having an axial recess therein formed in such manner as to provide an annular flange, said ring being located in the enlarged chambered portion of 60v said neck, a bottom piece secured to said head andprovided with an annular flange arranged to` surroundthe shaft and extended axially into said recess, the axial tubular extension of said neck having an oil outlet conduit therein so located 65 -that its receiving end communicates with the enlarged chambered portion at a position which is adjacent to the first mentioned end of said ringbut axially spaced therefrom, the periphery Aof said ring having an helical groove therein ex- 70 tending from lthe free edge of the flange to a po- '1 sition adjacent to .the receiving end of said conduit.

provided with an extended neck, a bearing located within the upper portion of said neck, said bearing and said neck having an oil inlet extending from the top ofthe sleeve through the bearing to the shaft, said neck also having an oil outlet conduit therein, a ring having one end portion 'so constructed and arranged as to be pressed on the shaft, the other-end portion of the ring having an axial recess therein formed in such manyner as to provide an annular flange, saidl ring being. located within said neck, a bottom piece secured-to said head and provided with an annular a'nge arranged to surround the shaft and extended axially into the recess, the upper end of said ring being adjacent to the receiving end of said oil outlet conduit but axially spaced therei from, the periphery of said ring having an helical groove therein extending from the free edge of theiange to a position adjacent to the receiving end of said oil outlet conduit, said bottom piece and the iiange thereof being so constructed and arranged as to provide a space for storing excess oil while the motor is idle. l

8. A system for circulating oil around a vertical oil shaft comprising a'motor head having an oil inlet conduit andan oil outlet conduit therein, a bearing in said head having grooves connecting with said inlet conduit, a ring also within said head, said ring having one end portion so constructed and arranged as to be pressed on said shaft, the other end portion of said ring having an axial recess therein formed in such manner as to provide an annular flange, a bottom piece secured to said head and provided with an an.- nular ange arranged to surround the shaft and extended axially into said recess, the periphery of -said ring having an helical lgroove therein "extending from the free edge of the flange to a position adjacent the receiving end `of Asaid outlet conduit, and so constructed and arranged as to force any excess oil upwardly through said outlet,

` and means providing communication between the oil inlet and the oil outlet. 9. A lubricating system comprising, in combination, a housing for'containing a supply of lubricant; a bearing support carried by the housiing; a bearing in'said support rotatably support- -ing a shaft, said bearing support and said bearing having passages extending above the-maximum lubricant level, and providing communication between the shaft and the housing above the maximum lubricant level in the housing; meshing gears, one being carried by the housing and dipping into the lubricant supply, and another being mounted on said shaft; one o1' the gears delivering lubricant to one of said passages; lubricant ow reversing means mounted on the 5 shaft for forcing lubricant from said one passage through the other passage into the housing, said flow reversirig means comprising a partially hollowed cylindrical member having 'a spirally disposed lubricant conveying groove therein, and a cylindricalWj chamber cooperating with the cylindricalvmember; and an annular member covering a portion of the shaft within the hollow of said cylindrical member to aheight suilicient to exceed that of the lubricant retained within the cylindrical chamber.

10. A lubricating system comprising in combination, a lubricant supply chamber having a supply of lubricant therein; a bearing support adjacent the said lubricant supply chamber, and having a bearing supported thereby; means for conveying lubricant to said bearing from said supply chamber; a shaft rotatable in said bearing; lubricant flow reversing means mounted on said shaft for forcing lubricant back to said chamber, comprising a partially hollowed cylindrical member having a spirally disposed oil conveyor thereon; said bearing providing a communicating passage for said lubricant; and an annular member covering a portion of said shaft within the hollow portion of said cylindrical member to a height Isuilicient vto exceed that of the lubricant retained around the said annular member.

11. A lubricating system comprising, in combilubricant to said bearing and for returning lubricant from the second chamber vto the ilrst chamber independently of said bearing; a shaft passing through lthe second chamber and into said bearing; and means withinvthe second chamber'and operated by the shaft for causing lubricant to ow against gravity from the second chamber to the rst chamber. 5o

JOHN MIKULASEK. 

